MR. FITZGERALD AT CHRISTCHURCH. (FROM THE "OTAGO DAILY TIMES," NOVEMBER 11.)

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXI, Issue 2608, 27 November 1865, Page 5

MR. FITZGERALD AT CHRISTCHURCH. (FROM THE "OTAGO DAILY TIMES," NOVEMBER 11.)

In commenting upon Mr. FitzGerald's speech at Christchurch iv onr article yesterday, we arrived at that portion of it in which he dealt with the native policy of the late Government. We briefly pointed out how worse than inglorious his own shaie in it was. His Act, which was expressly meant to provide for a case like that at the East Coast, was ignominiously thrown aside, as soon as the opportunity of using it arose, and in it 3 stead martial l»w "W»3 proclaimed. Another bill which Mr. FitzGerald desired to see pass, he was refused leave to introduce. It is all very well for Mr. FitzGeraid to attempt to blindfold bis Christchurch audience about that bill, and to have recourse to that iuvaiiable plan of his, when he is destitute of argument, prophesying as to the future. When all, or rather any, of his absurd prophecies are realised, we may believe in fresh ones. Meanwhile, his prophecy concerning the future good fortune of the hurled-out bill is not worth consideration. It was very well, as we have said, to attempt to bamboozle the Christchurch people, bufc he should have told them that he had not a word to say when he rose to reply to Mr. Stafford's argilments ; that he was almost speechless with agitation ; that there never was a more entire logical defeat than that which he met with, and his bill stood naked before the House in its plain coloun— another indication of the vindictive spite the gitted orator entertains against Auckland and the Auckland people, who persist in thinking him a wild erratic visionary. His impudent defence of the peace proclamation, none but he could have had the assurance to venture on. It was that proclamation which delivered from the hangman two natives, tried and condemned for as barbarous murders as any the Maoris have yet committed It was that proclamation that led to two frightful murders ; to one of which, that of Mr. Broughton, Mr. FilzGerald specially referred. He boasted he had gone to the Governor to recommend him to start off for Wanganui, that very day, to avenge the murder. That was just the fool's advice Mr. FitzGerald might have been expected to give. The A«sembly was sitting, and tbe Governor's presence was necessary for the prosecution of public business ; aud besides, it i« not easy to see what good the Governor could have personally done at Wanganui. But what Mr. FitzGeiald meant and what he felt were, if the murder were not avenged at once, he would not exactly forgot it, but his anger about it would cool As he wasi without compunction, allowing murdereis to walk out of the Auckland Gaol after the last doom of the law was passed on them, so he was conscious that he could not trust himsolf to bring to justice Mr. Broughton's murderers unless the thing was done offhand. In fact, through all his egotism a glimmering notion reaches him that after all he is only the creature oE impulse — "Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel." But the converting Sir George Grey into * special constable is precisely the course most injudicious. It was indeed his Excellency who pointed out that most of the so-called murders committed by the Maoris were merely stratagems for shifting the scene of warfare. When they wanted the Europeans to remove their forces from any ' particular spot, they committed a murder at a distance. In poor Brouglitou's case it is likely theio was in their miuda special feeling of aggravation. Not understanding Mr. FitzGerald's peculiar order of mind, they could no's conceive the peace proclamation as anything but au insnlt, when coincident with it a fresh war. like expedition was being fitted out, and'martial law proclaimed over a large tract oE country. But be that us it may, the hasty reprisal is not the one calculated to strike most terror into the Maori mind. The execution that overtakes the criminal months or years after tho offence is committed has infinitely mote terror both to the civilised aud savage mind than Mr. Fitz'Jerald's Donnybrook 'style' of retaliation. It may safely be said that the ''execution of, the two miuderera at Auckland, brought to justice long after their offence was committed, would have exerted an' iufinitely more poweiful effect than if Sir George Grey, despatched by. Mr. FitzGerald, had with his own hands . slaughtered Mr. Broughton's murderers, and Mr. FifizGerald practised on their remains the atrocious rites < of the Hauhaus. To use Mr. FitzGerald's own, words, he understands only the "the sword flaming in the air." He oannot comprehend the sword evenly poised; calmly wielded. In' fine, he is utterly without 'self-sustain-ment all his acts are borrowed from impulsei It ii this peculiar organization wliioh ' renders Mr. FitzGerald unable to understands what- Mr. Stafford 'means tiy letting ;the' Maoris' alone." TYet, to anyone 1 else, J the "ineaniqg should t he k plain; .Mr % 'Stafford will not undertake "costly expeditions that he cannot carry ,oufc. He will not, with ,the stupid-,bragga-docio witk,,which Mr. -FitzGerald pr,eteudn,to treat financial matters, involve the, colony ,in liabilities it .oanaot .fulfil.' ißut if his mill grind, slowly, it will grind exceedingly small. If we read _Mr. Stafford aright, he is tbe last man to think that delay expiates retribution. He moans this -he will punish the Maoris ■in his own way aud in his own time. Mr. FitfcGerald substantially holds that, the anger, once cooled, the offence should be condoned. It was a speoies.of, selfkuowledue that led to, the instructions _ he .gave to 'the'exiiedltiba^ttiat'the'murderejrs Wth* East'-Qoast sh6uld J ,be tiied'by court-martial,' aud J hung forthwith. ' Probably,' if Mr.'JFifczGerald had 'continued in office, he would have gone everyday to Sir George Grey ab J d recommended him >to proceed as special constable in fresh' directions.'- 1 The rest' of Mr. -FitzGerald's remarks about the late Government's 'native policy scarcely call for. comment.' i j It is enough to remember that they spread the disastrous disturbances all over the Northern' lslaud in total opposition _to the' policy, pursued by their predecessors, of confining the war as muob/as practicable. < • »• *■ :< u

i . Hon-ings.have beenicatigliti.in snoh iiumb§i < s oil the Gmli of St, Lawrence tnat they have been^sokl at 3d. perhT»ndre(lir)ii u Lj . - . l'i'l